The Pirate Situation, Captain Richard Phillips, The Obama Administration

[BoomBoom]

DAILY NATION- Military officials urge Obama to hit Somali militia

This pretty much sums up how I feel about it.... The lifeboat is now only 20 miles from land. If it makes land, then there better be american soldiers waiting. Also, it needs to be pointed out that there are Al Quieda operatives in Somalia that got training in southern Somalia, just north of Kenya. The situation is a lot bigger than at sea and our military should be given the green light to do what is necessary.

[VictorCharlie]

I watched those guys absolutely lay waste to a river bank north of Baghdad last year...Next to calling in strikes from A10 it was one of the most jaw dropping things I've have ever been apart of in the Army.

[Spicoli]

Great stuff. Yep,apparently the SEALS went in at night and took them out.He is free.What an Easter for his family.Im betting hence forth that Piracy will be met with the gloves off.Sounds like this was well thought out.Still dont know all the facts.

[Youngblood]

Seeing as some of you guys used this right wing propaganda stuff to blame your president for not getting this taken care of (which is hilariious, btw), now you can thank your president for making one of the only ever rescues without paying off the pirates.

Happy Easter.

[El Kabong]

Seeing as some of you guys used this right wing propaganda stuff to blame your president for not getting this taken care of (which is hilariious, btw), now you can thank your president for making one of the only ever rescues without paying off the pirates.

Happy Easter.

....Youngblood, I'm happy that you (someone who is too young to vote, who lives outside the US, and made such a big deal about Obama during the election like it would affect you) are pleased with the Obama Administration's slow actions in this situation....I am sure Obama will be pleased that you (a Canadian) have his back....it's nice that Obama seems to care more about what foreigners suchas yourself think instead of people in the country that elected him, and we're pleased as citizens represented by Obama that he can take time out of his speeches to talk shit about our country when we're at war and when situations like this arise.

Obama didn't use the freaking media whom he is so fond of to help out in this situation. He didn't make a speech, he didn't demand swift action, he didn't act like a leader....he didn't even answer questions about the pirates.....that's not leadership and although I am happy that the Captain (a man who acted like a true leader) is safe, I am unhappy with how long it took to free this guy from 4 pirates in a small boat that was out of gas.

Youngblood, it's not JUST about the pirate situation....if these bums are testing their boundries with us and the Chinese/North Koreans are doing the same and Obama isn't acting in a swift decisive manner then as a citizen you kind of worry about what is going to happen next.

[Youngblood]

Seeing as some of you guys used this right wing propaganda stuff to blame your president for not getting this taken care of (which is hilariious, btw), now you can thank your president for making one of the only ever rescues without paying off the pirates.

Happy Easter.

....Youngblood, I'm happy that you (someone who is too young to vote, who lives outside the US, and made such a big deal about Obama during the election like it would affect you) are pleased with the Obama Administration's slow actions in this situation....I am sure Obama will be pleased that you (a Canadian) have his back....it's nice that Obama seems to care more about what foreigners suchas yourself think instead of people in the country that elected him, and we're pleased as citizens represented by Obama that he can take time out of his speeches to talk shit about our country when we're at war and when situations like this arise.

Obama didn't use the freaking media whom he is so fond of to help out in this situation. He didn't make a speech, he didn't demand swift action, he didn't act like a leader....he didn't even answer questions about the pirates.....that's not leadership and although I am happy that the Captain (a man who acted like a true leader) is safe, I am unhappy with how long it took to free this guy from 4 pirates in a small boat that was out of gas.

Youngblood, it's not JUST about the pirate situation....if these bums are testing their boundries with us and the Chinese/North Koreans are doing the same and Obama isn't acting in a swift decisive manner then as a citizen you kind of worry about what is going to happen next.

So I guess that means you aren't going to thank him?

It was ridiculous for you guys to make it sound like Obama was on the phone the first time the captain jumped off, saying..."Wait guys, don't fire...I got policy on this!" Is like none of you even considered that maybe the people there on the scene were doing everything they could to keep the man alive and have a safe rescue.

It doesn't take much insight to see what sort uses a situation like this to promote their agenda politically. But seeing as ya all felt the need to, well atleast don't be uber hypocrites and now thank him.

Myself, I'll extend congrats to the men personally involved, the Navy guys, the captain, negotiators etc. I won't thank Obama because I never tried to in some deluded way think he was in any responsible.

Is there a situation with pirates? Yes, there is. Is it new? Not at all. Is there a situation with Korea? Yes there. Is it new? Not at all.

But hey, he has already done more with that situation in the seas then your republicans ever did by your logic (which is not at all logical). And he wouldn't have to do much more to do more then the repubs did concerning Korea. Maybe give the guy a few years...see what shakes out. I mean, seriously. He might need alittle time, he's currently having to clean up your parties complete fookin mess it left of the country, he's kinda a busy guy.

[BoomBoom]

Great news that he is free and unharmed. Couldnt be happier for him and his family. Let me explain something youngblood. This was a good ending, it could have easily gone bad though. The captain managed to jump from the ship again, this time action as taken. I thank the Navy, not Obama. Hes sitting in in a comfy chair or playing with his new puppy on capitol hill. Right wing, left wing, republican, democrat, that sh@t means absolutely nothing to me. All I care about is right and wrong and the priorities of the country, especially during hard times like this when we are most vulnerable and the whle world is watching. Trust me, I want more than anything for Obama to do good for this country. But, why should I or anyone else praise him for something that he doesnt deserve praise for? Now that this one thing has been taken care of, lets see how he acts on the ongoing situation over there.

[Youngblood]

I think you missed the point BoomBoom. You started this thread blaming Obama for them not firing the first time the captain jumped out and made a swim for it. Like seriously...are you kidding me?

So to assign that sort of responsibility to him, as you did, as Lyle and others with political agendas tend to do, then you must also assign him the responsibility for the outcome with that rationale. And seeing it was a positive outcome, yes, if you are going to assume him one way, then you should assume the other.

And of course no one with any use of unbiased logic and reason would do that, and consider that maybe it was the people in place at the scene who were handling it to the best of their abilities. Hoping for a good outcome. Not using it as a platform to blame the president.

[BoomBoom]

I think the presidents administration putting out a statement that we wanted to resolve the situation with no violence or loss of life was wrong. He didnt even come out himself with a statement of adress. One, because he didnt know how to react of what to do, or two because it wasnt his priority at the moment. Point is, he didnt show leadership an instead made us look weak by his absence and lack of immediate action. And please, dont talk to me about me having a political agenda and using this situation as an excuse to put blame on the president. Thats low of you to even insinuate. Im just gonna brush that one off and take it as a mistake on your part, because I like ya Youngblood you generally seem like a good dude. But its not as black and white as your making it out to be though, and the problems go far beyond the coast of Somali.

[El Kabong]

So Youngblood, you don't think President hand any say in the situation? You don't think the COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF had any say in a situation that involved a US Citizen and US Armed Forces?

It isn't about agenda it's about what's more important housing or someone's life?!?!?!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRrXrGg292w
....what are the true priorities of this administration, because bviously it's not our safety/security.

But I guess we can give him a pass, we gave him a pass for talking shit about the country that elected him, we gave him a pass for not responding in any meaningful way to North Korea, and we should give him a pass on this.....let's just wait it out and hopefully Barry's "Cover for me" attitude will fix all that is wrong with the world.....after all he's just sooooo cool, I mean we've got a celebrity as President who's telling foreign people that America as a whole is arrogant and therefore Americans are arrogant and if Barry can take the people of America down a peg then everyone else should have a go too.

Obama has the stage set to pick America up when we're down and what does he do Youngblood? Does he inspire us Does he tell us "We have nothing to fear but fear itself", does he tell us we are the "One shining city on a hill".....no he demeans us and puts us down outside of our country. Is that leadership to you?

[El Kabong]

Youngblood, Bob Hope said it best...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wqhh6Ebr9nQ

[OumaFan]

Republicans talking out of their asses, shocking

[boozeboxer]

Youngblood I agree with you on this one.


I am not impressed with Obama at all but this wasn't handled wrong.

[Youngblood]

And I'll in turn brush off your assumptions that the president was responsible for them not firing, and give you credit for having the good sense to realize it was likely the situation that dictated what happened and when. You directly said, and I quote, "Why did the Navy ship not fire on the pirate boat the second the Captain Phillips jumped off the boat? Why were there no snipers with nightvision that attempted to take out the pirate who went after him. The answer is because President Obama wanted no loss of life. Does he value the life of these thugs more than the life of one of our own?"

So you are insinuating the president values the life of Somalian pirates over his own countryman taken hostage, as president, and think it is silly to draw conclusions based on that?

Of course he didn't want loss of life, but did you consider maybe it was the loss of the captain he most feared? Nope, you assumed it was the pirates. How could anyone think he might be trying to save the pirates lives and be risking his own countryman for it. I know agenda when I smell it.

And I like you too BoomBoom, but don't agree with you here. It was a right wing spin on a bad situation that you bought into. No surprise at all Lyle took the leap either.

Now that the situation is over and turned out well, well yes, debate policy along the Somalian Coast, I agree it needs to be looked at, intervention should happen, force, w'e is required. And blame the real people responsibile, the pirates, and thank the real heros, the Navy, the captain, all others there doing all they could.

So yea. That.

And Lyle, c'mon, how can I take anything you say in regards to politics seriously? Don't make like you've never pleasured yourself in the parking lot of a Piggly Wiggly whilst listening to Rush Limbaugh on the radio talk of hoping the president fails.

Anyway, this concludes the youngblood clarity hour on the politics of spin. Always glad to help.

[El Kabong]

The result was great...but the response wasn't so hot. "Guys we're talking about housing right now" doesn't inspire or instill confidence in his leadership.

And all due respect it ain't just Obama, Hillary Clinton laughing about the situation was tacky and in very poor taste.